JayBird, Kaiser, SamHill and I will be covering the Oscars tonight. We’ll have coverage of the red carpet, event, and major categories. We’re also hoping to get a live stream of the Oscars, but we’ll have to see if it’s available.

This year’s Oscars are thought to be shaking things up with an intimate set and more audience-oriented dance and musical numbers. Producers are said to be trying to cut it down to just three hours, but we’re skeptical. Host Hugh Jackman has said that they’re striving to give it a nightclub feel and that they’ll try to make the party translate for the viewing audience. The presenters have largely been kept secret as they’re trying to build anticipation for the show. The AP has a good preview of what we can expect based on the details that have been leaked to the press:

“When (the producers) told me what they were going to do, I said, `Look, if it works, you’re geniuses, and if it doesn’t, you’re the putzes who sank the show,'” longtime Oscars show writer Bruce Vilanch said.
But lest cloaks and daggers become this year’s hot red carpet couture, here are the details about the show that — whether by design, or loose lips — have come to light over the past week:
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SONG-AND-DANCE (JACK)MAN: “Hugh (Jackman, the host) is going to come out and say a few things, but he’s not going to do a 10-minute monologue … He’s going to be doing a lot of musical stuff, so that will have a different feel to it.” — Vilanch, in an interview with The Associated Press.
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NEED A MONTAGE: The original song nominees will be presented together in a medley-style performance, rather than sprinkled throughout the show and played in their entirety. — Nominee Peter Gabriel, who announced in a video blog on his Web site that he was declining to perform “Down To Earth” from “WALL-E” to protest the one-minute limit for his part.
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I’M WITH THE BAND!: The band will be onstage for at least part of the show, rather than in the orchestra pit. A circular ministage juts into the audience. The set is surrounded by a glittering circle of white lights and crystals, and is flanked by enormous chandeliers. — Seen in renderings released by the firm of architect and first-time Oscars set designer David Rockwell.
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NIGHTCLUB JITTERS: “The look of the theater is very different. It’s more like the nightclub of your dreams. It’s very intimate. … It’s got to be a lot closer.” — Jackman, in an AP interview.
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NEVERENDING STORY: “The show’s got a narrative line this year, so all the awards are grouped around that. The sequence in which they’re given is dictated by this narrative.” — Vilanch.
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MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: Five LED flat-screens will move in and out of the set to help carry out the show’s “narrative.” The entire sets will change and evolve, “powered by a visual narrative that will unfold through 12 transforming sets throughout the night.” — The Rockwell renderings.
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PRESENTING … PRESENTERS!: “There are different people doing groups of awards instead of a different set for each one.” And at least some of the presenters who’d been lined up have backed out, emboldened by the anonymity they were afforded by the producers. — Vilanch, who didn’t name names.
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MUSIC, MAKES THE PEOPLE, COME TOGETHER: The original-song medley will have a vibrant, world-music theme driven by nominee “Slumdog Millionaire,” and includes a drum line made up of Indian, African, Japanese and Chinese percussionists. The “giant extravaganza” also has a full orchestra and choir. — DJ Ravi Drums, the leader of the drum line for the number.

[From AP via Google]

It sounds exciting, but it’s hard to tell if these type of variety-show efforts will be wildly entertaining or if they’ll fall flat. We’ll have to see what happens this year and I know we’re all looking forward to it.

Here’s a video of Hugh Jackman rehearsing for the Oscars.

Thanks to The Huffington Post for featuring this video. Photos of Oscar preparation from WENN